[Administrative notation: Wm MacRea / Cir. No 20 [undecipherable] / Nov. 20 [1797]] William Simmons Esquire Alexandria 20^th March 97 Sir I had the pleasure to receive yours of the 14^th Inst. by last post. and was glad to find Congress had made some compensation for the deranged [undecipherable: probable reading "Officers"]. It is a convenient thing for me as I was a few days before thinking of making a remittance of the [undecipherable] dollars due by me to the United States. I was at Detroit on the 31^st Oct. 1796 when the derangement took place and was doing the duty of Sub legionary Major to the 2 Sub Legion, — when Captain [undecipherable: probable reading "Guion"] went on furlough I was appointed to that Office by General Wayne, and received the emoluments thereof up to the 31^st Oct. which will I suppose intitle me to receive it in the present instance in addition to my pay as Captain— as well as the additional Rations — This will be Nothing but fair, as I did the duty of Adjutant General for three Months previous to my leaving the Army and never received any compensation for it — however I am confident you will do me all the justice in your power — I will write to Major Stagg to receive the Am^t and forward it to me, whose Receipt will be good — I have made out no account as I did not know the Abstract^d [undecipherable: probable reading "form"] of the ration, you will oblige me by making the calculations & dropping a line to me on the payment — I remain with Respect your most ob^t Humble Serv^t A MacRea William Simmons Esquire Philad.^a